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26. Make A Run For It

San Antonians are on the move, leading a local running and fitness boom.

San Antonio's running and fitness culture has been booming for the last five years or so, as the city continues to grow and infrastructure improvements prioritize pedestrians, bikers and runners. Whether you're a novice runner or have been lacing up your sneaks for as long as you can remember, San Antonio's central historic neighborhoods and legendary River Walk offer multiple options for getting your daily run in.

Starting in Midtown and Tobin Hill, snake your way along North St. Mary's and Josephine streets toward the Pearl, where you can pick up the River Walk and follow the path along the Museum Reach and into downtown. Skip the tourist-heavy Paseo del Rio by popping back onto the main road at West Commerce Street before dipping back down onto the River Walk just past Main Plaza. Soon, you'll find yourself in the historic King William District and approaching the Blue Star Arts Complex and Lone Star Brewery, for a total of about five miles. If you're looking for more mileage, continue toward the Mission Reach hike and bike trail for eight more miles, though be sure to wear a hat if you're out there during the day, as this part of the trail doesn't offer much in the way of shade. Bike lanes and renovated sidewalks in Southtown are also great options for shorter runs, with local favorite joints like The Friendly Spot and La Tuna easily accessible for a post-run happy hour.

Looking for a more structured running schedule or fellow runners to hit the pavement with? Take your pick from these local training groups, whether you're looking to get ready for your next marathon or get over those physical and mental hurdles and ease back into running: San Antonio Road Runners (saroadrunners.com), Soler's FIT/USA FIT San Antonio (sanantoniofit.com), or Fleet Feet Sports San Antonio (fleetfeetsanantonio.com/training). The new San Antonio Running Company (711 S. St. Mary's St.) store in Southtown offers weekly social runs (some followed by happy hour or brunch), as well as yoga for runners and Revolucion Juices for all your healthy living needs.